Japan Steel Works fakes inspection data for nuclear plants

A rotor shaft made by Japan Steel Works Ltd. A final report by outside lawyers into factory faked inspection data was provided by Japan Steel Works Ltd. JSW turned up 20 new cases of subpar equipment delivered to nuclear power plants.

The report followed relevations that the company's Muroran factory in Muroran, Hokkaido. For nearly a quarter of a century, inspection data on components shipped to electric power plants was faked.

JSW is a world leader in the industry of cast and forged steel.

A total of 449 fake inspection data cases have been confirmed to date.

In May, when the company admitted faking inspection data, the cases only involved products related to turbines used in electrical power plants.

A special investigation committee that carried out the investigation found that the company faked and fabricated data on other products as well.

The Muroran factory is currently operated by a subsidiary firm that was founded in April 2020.

A whistle-blower exposed the company's illegal activities in February of this year.

The investigation and admissions by the company indicate that the illegal activities began around 1998.

When a product failed to meet exacting standards during an inspection, the factory's product department instructed the inspection department to change the inspection results or change the measuring method.

One of the 20 or so cases involving nuclear power plant-related products involved a product used domestically.

It was a base of a container to store nuclear waste, and the flaw was caught before delivery.

Among 449 cases confirmed by the special investigation committee, there was not a single case of a product that didn't meet the client's request in terms of quality, the report noted.

There was never a case in which a product ended up being replaced after consultation with the client.